Early HPE restoration

[WestonE]

Not a bad idea Nigel. I think I would change the Diff Bearings and seals, Clutch arm bush, Main shaft output seals behind Clutch release bearing and of course an oil change and quick inspection with the end plate removed on the main box. Note the bolts for the cover plate respect plenty of release agent maybe heat to prevent snapping. I replace mine with Stainless bolts as they carry no significant load. With the box in service if 1st to 2nd Syncro is OK then a second oil change with the box hot soon after using it to get the crud washed out. Beware the box with golden oil on top and black sludge below. This is oil breakdown and it etches the Syncros and trashes all the bearings. I saw this on a 24k only Monte Box that then needed all new internals.

[Carlwil10]

Great to meet you peter and thanks very much for the roof trim for my beta.

Carl

[peteracs]

Hi Carl

No problem, hope it fits the early car? Looking forward to your next installment!

Hi Eric/Nigel

Good call on the diff bearings, I have a new set of seals already. I do intend to drain the oil and see if there is any residual sludge. The first box I bought was supposed to be refurbished, but not by the seller, so it will be suck it and see time.

Thanks for the comments

Peter

[peteracs]

Also just received a pair of new door keys from John Richard. He managed to source some new/old stock blanks with plastic ends rather than the solid metal ones. Fortunately the code on the end of the glovebox lock is the correct one for the rest of the car. The only key I had before this was an after market and had no markings.

Peter

[Nigel]

You added some very good points Eric. I was perhaps
a little brief on my post!
Those diff bearings are easy to get and easy to fit, and don't
affect any existing pre-load set-up, provided the shims all
stay in place.

N.

[peteracs]

Hi

After using the new tilting lift on the Spider, which did a good job. I now wanted to use it on the HPE shell to allow me to get rid of the current support 'dolly'. The problem with using it as intended is that the bars which connect the two sides of it would get in yhenway of the dolly. So I split into two separate lifts and arranged them under the sills of the shell. Each has a separate gearbox so this worked well. The only issue being having to support the bars which stick out. I then connected a drill to take up the slack

The shell is now supported by the tilting lift both sides. I will see how it progresses probably leaving it for more elderly folk. I will make some more permanent supports rather than the blocks of wood I grabbed to keep it balanced.

Peter

[WestonE]

That is probably a design improvement given the weight. I guess getting both sides rising to the same height involves running round the car though.

[peteracs]

Hi Eric

Yes you have to raise each side so care needed there, also to use regularly will involve some improvement to sideways stabilisation, but the benefit is weight/maneouverability and storage all of which are a problem when you want to move it. Also this way together with axle stands for added security leaves the center of the car without any obstacles whilst under the car. Also only one side has the retaining pin to stop the tilt so that one needs to be used if only using one of them to access a particular side.

Peter